Medico-legal assessment of scar quality

In medico-legal practice the assessment of scar quality is important when determining quantum. However, the quality of the scar may bear little relationship to how noticeable it is, as this is largely determined by its size and site.

The notional ‘conversational distance’ is the range at which a scar can be reasonably categorised as barely, easily or immediately noticeable, yet this is no more standardised than the photographic images obtained by a medical expert.

‘Until there is a requirement to engage a medical photographer in every personal injury claim, as has been suggested, medical experts will continue to do what they can.’The Law Gazette has a interesting article on medical photography when determining quantum.